Portrait of Peter Paul Rubens, aged 46 1630

This engraving by Paulus Pontius, created in 1630, depicts Peter Paul Rubens, the renowned Flemish painter, at the age of 46. The portrait, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, captures Rubens in a three-quarter pose, with a dramatic use of light and shadow. Pontius, a master of the engraving technique, skillfully renders Rubens's facial features, his signature beard, and the elaborate collar of his garment. This print serves as a valuable visual record of Rubens's appearance, capturing his strength, intelligence, and the artist's own mastery of his craft.